Conquering Overwhelm: Tackling the “Too Much”

Conquering Overwhelm: Tackling the “Too Much”

Conquering Overwhelm: Tackling the “Too Much”

By SOS4Students Coach Marco Vieira

Conquering Overwhelm: Tackling the “Too Much”

Overwhelmed? Yeah… us too. 

Overwhelm is an inevitable part of life; we bite off more than we can chew and next thing you know you’re staring at a mountain of tasks like a deer in the headlights of a cybertruck. For those who suffer from executive function difficulties, overwhelm can become a frequent visitor, bulldozing peace of mind and productivity.

Knowing where this overwhelm comes from and what to do when it strikes can help individuals take the first steps toward conquering their personal mountains.

What Causes Overwhelm?

Overwhelm is caused when demands placed on an individual exceed their perceived ability to cope with them effectively.

With executive function it usually comes from these scenarios:

  • Too many tasks, not enough time
  • Procrastination
  • Poor time management
  • Information overload
  • Starting the task
  • Emotional exhaustion
  • Decision fatigue.

While it is normal for all of us to get overwhelmed from time to time, it is also important to learn how to overcome these feelings and push on. Here are some best practices from SOS4Students.

List It

The first and most important step for overcoming overwhelm is to write down all of your tasks. Big, small, three years in the future, next four seconds—whatever it happens to be—WRITE IT DOWN. Just the tiny habit of writing tasks down so you won’t forget them has a huge impact on dealing with overwhelm.

You can put your list on paper or a nice Excel/Google Sheet Spreadsheet. DO whatever you like best.

Next, you want to label each task with the following information attached to them.

  • Due Date
  • Collaborators—Group project? Need support from an adult for supplies or maybe an interview?
  • Estimated time of completion—Knowing how much time you will need to complete a task does wonders for planning and is extremely important. It’s better to overestimate and to finish your task earlier than expected then to not have enough time.
  • Impact—What are the ramifications of not completing the task? Is it the difference between an A and an A- OR a B to an F?

However you choose to do it, get your tasks written down. You will thank yourself later.

A Plan

One of the best methods for overcoming overwhelm is to have a plan of action. If you know what to do, you are more likely to push through the fog and get to work. Here is one of my “go-to”s for keeping on top of work:

A Now/Soon/Later/Future Chart

Create a 2×2 chart and label boxes as  “Now”, “Soon”, “Later”, and “Future”. You can do this in a spreadsheet and list tasks. Or you can create a chart that you post on your wall to track schoolwork. Just use sticky notes to write each task down and prioritize by placing the tabs in the appropriate boxes, adjusting as needed. What you mean by “Now/Soon/Later/Future” can be defined in your own terms, and updated as needed. This allows you to take control of your action plan.

Break it Down

Nothing overwhelms the senses faster than facing a mountain we feel we cannot climb. Large, complex tasks are the leading cause of overwhelm. When we break down these seemingly impossible tasks into smaller ones, we are no longer looking at the mountain, but small, climbable hills.

If you are having difficulty starting, break down the first task into a piece so small that you become willing to do it. Clear out all the following tasks from your mind and focus on that particular step. After that, take it one step at a time.

We Are Here to Help!

SOS4Students has helped countless students navigate these issues and more so they can reach their full potentials. If you have questions about coaching, advocacy, or other ways in which we can help, contact us today at (510) 531-4767 or .